Lincolnland Club and District Leaders,

Wow, what a convention!  Around 100 Exchangites and guests attended the 84th Annual Lincolnland Convention in Naperville on June 10th - 13th.  We were joined by Immediate Past National President Floyd Culver and his wife Ann from Defiance, Ohio, as well as Region 3 Vice President Katie Smith from Owatonna, Minnesota.

The convention kicked-off on Thursday, June 10th, with greetings and registration, a trolley tour of Naperville (including a stop at the Exchange Club of Naperville's Memories Fountain), a boxed meal and concert by the Naperville Municipal Band, and a late evening of pulled pork sandwiches and refreshments in the hospitality room.

Friday's festivities started with a Town Hall Luncheon with Floyd Culver, Katie Smith, and National Foundation Trustee Stan Rocush fielding questions from convention attendees.  Our Opening Business Session started with a rousing welcome from Naperville Mayor and Exchangite George Pradel and was followed by an inaugural "Parade of Banners", where each of our 31 Lincolnland clubs was formally introduced and the delegate roll was called.  Lincolnland division directors, officers, and committee chairs then delivered reports to the convention attendees.  Our first set of district awards were presented, with Champaign and Rantoul earning the Membership Net Numerical Increase Award with +2 each, Quad Cities winning the Membership Net Percentage Increase Award at 2.2%, and Rantoul earning the Club Meeting Best Percentage Attendance Award with 71%.  Along with Champaign, Rantoul, and Quad Cities, Urbana and Joliet were also recognized for having growth of +1 for the period from June 1st, 2009, to May 31st, 2010.  Following the club awards, Immediate Past National President Floyd Culver addressed the convention attendees on National Exchange issues and included very complimentary thoughts on Lincolnland.  The session concluded with a spirited edition of "Who Wants to Win Somewhat-Fabulous Prizes", as Belleville's Helen Cook, Beardstown's Doug Morris, and Breakfast Gurnee's Marge Keenan-Denniston and Lyla Chandy won Exchange Club mugs and hats as well as highly-coveted decks of cards based on their knowledge of Exchange Club trivia (and with a little help from the audience).  Friday concluded with a relaxing evening of "Come to the Cabaret" music performed by "writeblend" featuring songs from the 40s, 50s, and 60s.  The evening also included a somewhat-harmonious duet by Stan Rocush and Naperville Club President Pete Rocush and a late-night edition of "Pass the Trash".

Our busy Saturday began with a very memorable One Nation Under God Breakfast featuring special guest speaker Deborah Rickert, a five-star mom who founded Operation Support Our Troops Illinois (OSOTIL) in 2003 after her son Dan decided to attend the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.  Deb described how OSOTIL has shipped over 29,000 comfort packages to the men and women of our armed forces serving around the world.  Our breakfast concluded with a very meaningful Memorial Service led by Former Region 3 Vice President Lou Molitor, who honored and celebrated the lives of those Lincolnland Exchangites who passed away this year.

Our Saturday Business Session featured district elections, and the following Lincolnland leadership team is set for 2010 - 2011: President Kathy Johnson, President-Elect Helen Cook, Secretary Donna Givens, Treasurer Patti Molitor, Immediate Past President Scot Warren, Division 1 Director Mike Oster, Division 2 Director Cynthia Lee, Division 3 Director Janet Jacobs, Division 4 Director John Hughes, Division 5 Director Susan Murphy, Division 6 Director Joe Johnson, Division 7 Director John Hummel, Division 8 Director John Smith, Division 9 Director Bill VanKeuren, Division 10 Director Dennis Koch, and Division 11 Director Teresia Mueller.  Lou Molitor and Joe Johnson were elected as trustees to the Lincolnland Foundation for Youth.  During the business session, I discussed with the delegates a potential amendment to our Lincolnland by-laws regarding district dues of $0.00 for Excel Club members.  This potential amendment was endorsed by the Lincolnland board and convention delegates, but a formal by-law amendment procedure will likely begin after the National Convention in July.  Following our elections and by-law discussion, I delivered a "State of the District" address summarizing 2009-2010 in relation to finances, goals, communications, and impacts, and Kathy Johnson outlined district plans for 2010 - 2011.  Then, Katie Smith address the convention delegates on Region 3 issues and included some fine words about Lincolnland.  The business session concluded with a spirited edition of "Exchange Pyramid", as Champaign's Tom and Nancy Williams won "somewhat-fabulous" prizes and raised money for the Lincolnland Foundation for Youth by correctly describing and identifying Exchange-related items.  Saturday afternoon included Club Officer and Division Director Training Sessions led by Kathy Johnson and a casual Round Table Session led by me.

Saturday night's Installation Banquet started with a silent auction and relaxing music performed by Flautist Karen Rocush.  After dinner and a live auction benefiting the National Foundation and the Lincolnland Foundation for Youth, I recognized past and current District Officers, Directors, and Committee Chairs; past District Presidents, past and current National Board members, and past National Presidents Floyd Culver and Harold Warren.  We then presented Lincolnland District awards, which included: Best Club Bulletin (less than 50 members) - Quad Cities;  Best Club Bulletin (50 or more members) - Mattoon;  Kremer-Clarkson-Krause Award - Lois Dixon and Carol Murphy, Quad Cities;  Distinguished Service Award - Jeff Dorsey, Quincy;  Contributing Service Award - Linnea Johnson, Naperville;  Rookie of the Year - Carolyn Lauder, Beardstown;  All American Volunteer Award - Trish Krenick, Naperville;  5As - Alton, Beardstown, Quad Cities, Belleville, Grayslake, Mattoon, and Naperville; and Exchangite of the Year - Lisa Alsip, Greater Kendall County.  After the award presentations, Immediate Past National President Floyd Culver formally inducted the 2010 - 2011 Lincolnland District Officers and Board, and then District President Kathy Johnson addressed the attendees.  The evening officially concluded with expressions of appreciation, presentations of gifts to our National Representatives and the 2009 - 2010 Lincolnland District Team, and some closing thoughts by me (which will serve as my final edition of "Around Lincolnland" to be issued next weekend).  The evening unofficially concluded with another late-night edition of "Pass the Trash".

Our 84th Annual Lincolnland Convention concluded on Sunday morning with the Youth Recognition Breakfast.  Convention Committees delivered their reports, and Belleville won the District Convention Spirit Award.  Chair Stan Rocush then thanked and recognized the Naperville Convention Committee, and Joe Johnson previewed the 85th Annual Lincolnland District Convention to be held in Rock Island on June 23rd - 26th, 2011.  We then presented our Lincolnland Youth of the Year Award to Alejandra Mesa, who was nominated by the Exchange Club of Waukegan, and our ACE Award to Kaitlynn Kaslow, who was nominated by the Exchange Club of Gurnee Noon.  Each of these outstanding youths received special plaques and checks for $2500 to continue their education.  The breakfast concluded with comments from Lincolnland Foundation for Youth Chair Jim Ruzon followed by a fine rendition of "God Bless America" led by Alton's Kathla Marshall.

I thank all of you who planned, attended, and contributed to the success of our convention.

Please remember to share Exchange.  We have 1279 Lincolnland Exchangites dedicated to our programs in Americanism, Community Service, Youth, and the Prevention of Child Abuse.  Let's expand our outreach and help even more families and communities.  Ask a friend, family member, or business associate to join our ranks.  You and your community will be glad you did.

And finally, I'd like to thank Beardstown for their fine hospitality during my visit to their Installation and Awards Banquet on Thursday, June 17th.  I'd also like to pre-thank Champaign, Aurora, and Grayslake for their fine hospitality during my upcoming visits to their Installation Events this week.  A great time was and will be had by all.

Thanks for all you do in the Spirit of Exchange.             

Scot

Scot Warren
Lincolnland District President, 2009 - 2010
The Power of Exchange - Be Inspired!

Home: (630) 527-9130, swwarren@att.net
Work: (815) 609-2137, scot.warren@veoliawater.com